Public's help sought to solve 3 killings, 2 woundings in Fort Pierce area over 4 days

ST. LUCIE COUNTY — Three shooting deaths and two gunshot injuries — in four incidents — in the Fort Pierce area since early Friday are keeping deputies and police occupied and asking for public help.

Fort Pierce police say they don't see any connections between their two cases — a double homicide on Sunday and a gunfire injury on Monday — while St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office officials aren't commenting on whether they see any links in their cases.

The incidents come as Fort Pierce police continue coping with periodic gunfire, particularly on the streets, and with gangs, officials say.

Police Chief R. Sean Baldwin contends that a comparatively small number of people are committing the offenses and he said in the next few months, an ongoing investigation should "result in the arrests of individuals responsible for a lot of the violence," he said Tuesday.

At the same time, "We have extra people on the streets" as his agency and the Sheriff's Office work together on the problem, Baldwin said.

In the latest incidents, since Friday, there has been one arrest: Demetrious Hogan, 22, of Fort Pierce, is charged with attempted homicide in the drive-by shooting of a woman in the leg Friday night north of Fort Pierce, in the Juanita Avenue area. Deputies arrested Hogan after chasing a car that crashed a mile from the drive-by shooting, which deputies witnessed.

A witness told of seeing a man hanging out of a car and shooting at a house, according to sheriff's reports. After his arrest, deputies quoted Hogan as saying he blacked out during the incident and doesn't remember anything, according to a sheriff's report.

The series of shooting crimes started early Friday when a man identified as Thomas Alexander was found fatally shot south of Fort Pierce, in the area of Glenview Drive and South Seventh Street — within a few blocks of where sheriff's Sgt. Gary Morales was fatally shot during a traffic stop Feb. 28.

About 4 p.m. Sunday in the 2900 block of Avenue E in Fort Pierce, an unknown assailant or assailants fired on an Acura sedan occupied by Jensen Beach motorists Jason C. Osteen, 36, and Charles William Brookfield, 54. Brookfield was declared dead on arrival at a hospital. Osteen died Sunday night at Lawnwood Regional Medical Center & Heart Institute.

Then gunfire on Monday afternoon left an unidentified man hospitalized. Police got a report of gunfire in the 3300 block of Okeechobee Road in Fort Pierce at 4:30 p.m. Monday and found blood at the scene, a police spokesman said. The victim turned up at the hospital after someone drove him there.

From what police have found so far, "There is no indication at all that (one) is connected to the other" shooting in Fort Pierce on Sunday, said Fort Pierce Police Detective Dave Cuti. And there is no known motive.

SHOOTINGS TIMELINE

Friday, 12:30 a.m.: Thomas Alexander found fatally shot south of Fort Pierce, in the area of Glenview Drive and South Seventh Street. Alexander's age and address haven't been released and there have been no arrests.

Friday, 7:30 p.m.: Drive-by shooting of a woman in the leg in the 2900 block of Kingsley Drive, north of Fort Pierce. Deputies charged Demetrious Hogan, 22, of Fort Pierce, with attempted homicide.

Sunday, 4 p.m.: Two Jensen Beach motorists fatally shot in their car in the 2900 block of Avenue E, Fort Pierce. No arrests.